The employment rate was 66.7% in the December 2025 quarter, compared with 66.6% in the September 2025 quarter. The labour force participation rate was 70.5% in the December 2025 quarter, compared with 70.3% in the previous quarter. Labour force participation indicates the proportion of working-age people who are engaged in the labour market through employment or unemployment. Compared with the September 2025 quarter, 20,000 more women were in the labour force – 16,000 more employed and 4000 more unemployed. Underutilisation is a broad measure of untapped labour market capacity that includes unemployed and underemployed people, along with the potential labour force.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 03, 2026 22:50 UTC